Meth case pleas entered

Missouri residents linked to lab found in Doland

April 03, 2007|By Scott Waltman, American News Writer

Two Missouri residents admitted their roles in a methamphetamine lab discovered late last year in Doland. Vic Fischbach, Day County state's attorney, said Kristi L. Brown, 39, and her husband John L. Brown, 38, both pleaded guilty to the same crimes:

Manufacture of methamphetamine, a felony punishable by as much as 10 years in state prison and a $20,000 fine.

Keeping a place for the use or sale of drugs, a felony punishable by as much as five years in state prison and a $10,000 fine. The Browns were not sentenced. No sentencing date was set. A presentence investigation was requested. Fischbach said he will cap his request for time in prison at 10 years with three suspended. The defendants can request less time in prison. In exchange for their guilty pleas, other drug-related charges were dismissed, Fischbach said. The Browns were arrested in early December because law enforcers believed they were operating a functioning meth lab in at least one Doland-area home. At least two other people were also arrested and are still making their way through the court system. In other Tuesday court-related news involving felonies:

An Aberdeen man was sent to state prison for violating the terms of his probation. Michael M. Rusler, 32, was previously convicted of burglary, a felony punishable by as much as 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He broke his probation rules by making a sexually suggestive phone call in August and being charged with indecent exposure for walking around the parking lot of the Starlite without pants in November. Rusler was given a five-year prison term with two and a half years suspended. He must also pay for his court-appointed attorney fees. Rusler apologized for his actions and said he is now on medications and doing better.

Two Aberdeen residents entered innocent pleas to counts of aggravated assault in unrelated cases. In each case, the crime is a felony punishable by as much as 15 years in state prison and a $30,000 fine. Daniel C. Sommer, 19, is accused of assaulting another person with a beer bottle, said Mark McNeary, Brown County state's attorney. Jolain St. Clair, 48, is accused of using a knife to administer minor cuts to a victim, McNeary said. Both Sommer and St. Clair requested jury trials. Dates were not set.